Broom-corn cleaner.



C. E. BROWN.

BROOM CORN CLEANER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-4. 1915.

Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET! C. E. BROWN.

BROOM CORN CLEANER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 4. 1915..

Patented Apr. 4., 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0., WASHINGTON, D. c.

C. E. BROWN.

BROOM CORN CLEANER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 4,1915. 1,178,294. Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3. v

NT @FFTfiE.

CHARLES EDMUND BROWN, OF MOUNDSVILLE, WEST VIRGINIA.

BBO OM-CORN CLEANER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

Application filed. September 4, 1915. Serial No. 48,980.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, CHARLES E. BROWN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Moundsville, in the county of Marshall and State of Vest Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Broom-Corn Cleaners, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to improvements in broom-corn cleaners.

The object of my invention is to provide a machine in which the broom-corn is fed into the machine and properly cleaned of all the seed and straightened out without injury to the corn, thus eliminating any waste.

Another object of my invention is to pro vide a machine of this character in which the butts of the broomcorn are cut off the proper place, and in which the cleaned broom-corn is assorted and deposited in different receptacles so that each receptacle contains the broom-corn of approximately the same length.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a simple, cheap and more effective machine of this character having certain details of structure and operation. hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved machine showing the inclosing case partly broken away. Fig. 2 is a side elevation looking in the direction of the arrow Fig. 1, and showing the casing broken away to show the cleaning cylinders. Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the cleaning cylinders and conveying belts showing the means for operating the same. a is an enlarged side elevation of the shoe for holding the broom-corn on the conveying belt. Fig. 5 is an end view of the feeding chain looking in the direction of the arrow Fig. 4:.

Referring now to the drawings, 1 represents a housing which is preferably of an elongated form made of either wood or metal, as is desired, and which has mounted in its lower portion adjacent one end a shaft2, which is the main drive shaft. This shaft has an idle pulley 3 mounted thereon, and the drive pulley 1 rigidly mounted thereon over which a belt passes driven from any source of power and by which the shaft 2 is rotated. The shaft 2 on the inside of 55 the idle pulley 3 is provided with a pulley 5 over which passes a belt 6 which extends upwardly and passes over a pulley 7 rigidly mounted on the shaft 8. This shaft 8, as shown, is arranged at the upper end of the frame 1 adjacent one side, and is provided adjacent its inner end with the saw 9 which is adapted to cut off the butts of the broomcorn, as will be later described.

The shaft 2, as shown, extends entirely across the frame 1, and is provided at its outer end with a bevel gear 10 meshing with the bevel gear 11 rigidly carried by the shaft 12. The shaft 12,'as shown, is arranged at an angle to the shaft 2 and is provided with a large pulley 13. Carried by the upper end of the frame in vertically movable bearings later described, are the combing cylinders 14 and 15. These cylinders, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings and also in Figs. 2 and 3, are arranged one above the other, and are mounted upon shafts 16 and 17 The shaft 16 carries a small pulley 18 at one end on the outside of the frame, and the shaft 17 carries a pulley 19 of the same diameter as the pulley 1S and arranged directly below the same. An idle pulley 20 is mounted below the shaft 17 for the purpose later described.

Extending across the frame 1, in rear of the combing cylinders 1e and 15 is a shaft 21 which is provided with a pulley 22 arranged in longitudinal alinement with the pulleys 18, 19, and 20 and also in horizontal alinement with the large pulley 13 carried by the shaft 12. Passing over the pulley 13 is a belt 23 which passes over the idle pulley 2020 and around one face of the pulley 19 and upwardly over the pulley 18, and back around the enlarged pulley 13. By the rotation of the shaft 2 through the medium of the pulleys 3 and 4 and the de sired motor, it will be seen that the combing cylinders 14 and 15 are both driven at the same rate of speed. The belt is preferably used for the purpose of allowing a slight slipping on the pulleys in the event that undue pressure is brought to bear upon the combing cylinders and which has been found to have a good result upon the broomcorn and prevent it from being unduly pulled or broken.

The combing cylinders 1 1 and 15, as shown in the drawings, are of an elongated form and provided with radially extending combing teeth arranged longitudinally thereon, and the teeth of one cylinder arranged so that the teeth of the other cylinder pass between them, whereby there will be no cutting action between the teeth and yet the broomcorn will be properly cleaned and straightened during its passage therethrough.

The shafts 16 and 17 of the combing cylinders are preferably mounted in bearings 24 and 25 which are carried by the vertically adjustable rods 26, whereby the space between the cylinders can be varied for different grades of broom-corn. These rods are preferably adjustable by means of the nuts 27 above and below the horizontal beam 28 of the frame 1, as fully shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The shaft 2 is provided with a pulley 28 over which passes the belt 29. The belt 29 extends vertically and passes over the pulley 22 carried by the shaft 21. The object of the shaft 21 is to provide means for driving and supporting the conveyer belts 30 and 31 which passrearwardly at one side of the combing cylinders, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings.

Supported in the frame 1 in rear of the combing cylinders, is a shaft 32 which is provided with sprocket wheels 33 and 34 in horizontal alinement with the sprockets 35 and 36 carried by the shaft 21 and over which the conveyer chains 30 and 31 pass. [he shaft 32 on the inside of the sprocket wheels 33 and 34 is provided with two sprocket wheels 35 and 36 over which the conveyer chains 37 and 38 pass, and which travel rearwardly over pulleys 39 and 40 carried by the stub shafts 41 and 42 mounted in the frame and which are adapted to convey the broom-corn after'it is cleaned into the receptacle 43.

The frame 1 at the rear end is divided into four receptacles 43, 44, 45 and 46 in which the different lengths broom-corn are deposited a will be later described. The shaft 32 is provided with a large pulley 47 over which the conveyer chain 48 passes. This chain extends to the rear end of the frame 1 and passes over the pulley 49 mounted on the stub axle 50. In order to keep the conveyer chain 48 tight, a belt tightener 51 is provided, which is provided with a peripheral groove to allow for the teeth 53 carried by the chain 48 to pass, as clearly shown in Fig. 3 0f the drawings. The shaft 32 is provided with a sprocket 54 over which passes a conveyer chain 55 which extends rearwardly and passes downwardly over an idle pulley 56 above the center of the receptacle 43 in alinement with the conveyer chains 37 and 38. A second sprocket 57 is mounted on the shaft 32, and passing over the same is a conveyer chain 58 which ends at a ointopposite the center of the receptacle 44. Another sprocket 59 is mounted upon the shaft 32 and over which passes the conveyor chain 60, which extends rearwardly and terminates at a point above the receptacle 45. Another sprocket 61 is mounted upon the shaft 32 and over which the conveyer chain 62 passes and which extends to the end of the receptacle 46. The operation of these several conveyer chains will be later more fully described.

Arranged directly below the combing cylinders 14 and 15 is a funnel chute 63 communicating at its lower end with a fan housing 64 driven by means of the belt 65 which In order to hold the broom-corn firmly upon the conveyer belts 30 and 31 while the 1 broom-corn is passing between the combing cylinders, I provide a frame 67 in which are vertically mounted a series of shoes 68 which are normally held in their downward position by means of the springs 69, and whereby the butts of the broom-corn are held upon the belt and the straw end thereof combed out and the seeds, etc, stripped therefrom by the combing cylinders 14 and 15. As the belts 30 and 31 convey the broom-corn between the combing cylinders, the saw 9 outs off-the butt the proper length and the broom-corn continues through the combing cylinders and is deposited upon the conveying chains, as will be seen from Fig. 1 of the drawings. The short broom corn is conveyed rearwardly by the chains 37 and 38, and the chain 48, and deposited in the receptacle 43. The longer pieces of broom-corn are conveyed by the chains 48 and 58 to the receptacle 44, while the still longer pieces are conveyed by the chains 48 and 60 to the receptacle 45, and the longer of all of the broom-corn are conveyed by the chains 48 and 62 to the receptacle 46. By this arrangement, it will be seen that the broom-corn as it is discharged from the combing cylinders is assorted into different lengths, each length deposited in its respective receptacle.

While I have shown and described this specific manner of conveying different lengths of broom-corn to their respective receptacles, it will be understood that this could be varied without departing from my invention. 2

The broom-corn is fed by hand to the forward end of the machine, and is first engaged by the chains 30 and 31 which conveys it beneath the shoes, and the remainder of the operation of the machine is automatic. A. housing is preferably arranged above the combing cylinders, and also above the several conveyer chains, whereby all parts are protected and which also prevents the dust and dirt from the broom-corn from flying.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A machine of the character described, comprising a frame, obliquely arranged combing cylinders arranged one above the other within the frame, means for vertically adjusting said cylinders, a conveyer chain adapted to convey the broom-corn between the cylinders, a saw adapted to cut the butts of the broom-corn on the outside of the conveyer chain, and means for assorting the broom-corn, as shown and described, said combing cylinders and conveyerconstituting conveying and alining means for directing the stalks to said assorting means.

2. A machine of the character described, comprising an elongated frame, combing cylinders within the frame and extending obliquely there across, means for vertically adjusting the combing cylinders, a conveyer chain on the outside of the cylinders and adapted to convey the broom-corn between the cylinders, a driven shaft below the cylinders and independent belts driven by said shaft for independently operating the cylinders and the conveyer chain.

3. A machine of the character described, comprising an elongated frame, two combing cylinders arranged one above the other obliquely of the frame, a conveyer chain on the outside of the cylinders and adapted to convey the broom-corn between the combing cylinders, a shoe above the conveyer chain and adapted to hold the butts of the broomcorn in the conveyer chain, a saw on the outside of the conveyer chain and adapted to cut the butts off, a driven shaft carried by the frame and separate belts driven by the shaft for independently operating the combing cylinders, the conveyer chain and the saw.

4. A machine of the character described, comprising an elongated frame, two combing cylinders extending obliquely across the frame and arranged one above the other, means for vertically adjusting the combing cylinders, a conveyer chain on the outside of the combing cylinders and adapted to convey the broom-corn between the cylinders, a driven shaft carried by the shaft below the combing cylinders, a belt, a belt driven by the shaft and adapted to drive both the said combing cylinders, and a belt driven by said shaft for driving the conveyer chain, as shown.

A machine of the character described, comprising an elongated frame, vertically adjustable combing cylinders arranged one above the other and extending obliquely of the frame, a fan housing and fan below the combing cylinders, means for vertically adjusting the combing cylinders, a conveyer chain for feeding the broom-corn to the 6. A machine of the character described,

comprising an elongated frame, two combing cylinders arranged at one end of the frame and extending obliquely there across one above the other, means for vertically adjusting the said cylinders, a belt for driving said cylinders, means for driving said belt, means for conveying the broom-corn to the cylinders, a saw adapted to cut the butts of the broom-corn off at the proper length, and means for receiving the broom-corn from the combing cylinders and distributed into separate receptacles according to its length, said combing cylinders and conveyer constituting conveying and alining means for directing the stalks to said assorting means.

7. A machine of the character described, comprising a frame, two combing cylinders arranged one above the other within the frame and extending obliquely there across, a saw on the outside of the combing cylinders and arranged parallel with the frame, a driven shaft extending across the lower end of the frame, a bevel gear carried by the end of the shaft, a second shaft extending obliquely across the frame parallel with the combing cylinders, a bevel gear carried by said obliquely arranged shaft and meshing with a bevel gear of the first-mentioned shaft, a pulley carried by the obliquely arranged shaft, pulleys carried by the drums of the combing cylinders, and a belt passing over the pulleys whereby the cylinders are driven in unison, and means for conveying the broom-corn from the combing cylinders and assorting it according to its length, said combing cylinders and conveyer constituting conveying and alining means for directing the stalks to said assorting means.

8. A machine of the character described,

comprising an elongated frame, two combing cylinders arranged one above the other and extending obliquely across the frame, means for vertically adjusting the said combing cylinders, a drive pulley below the cylinders, pulleys carried by the ends of the shafts of the cylinders, a belt passing over the drive pulley, and the pulleys on the combing cylinders, and a belt tightener for the said belt, whereby the cylinders may be adjusted.

9. A machine of the character described, comprising an elongated frame, two cylinders extending obliquely across the frame one above the other, a conveyer chain arranged at one end of the cylinders parallel with the frame, a flexible shoe above the conveyer frame, spring holding the said shoes in their downward position for holding the butts of the broom-corn on the conveyer, a saw on the outside of the conveyer chain and adapted to cut the butts off at their proper length, a driven shaft carried by the frame below the combing cylinders, a belt driven by said driven shaft positively driving both of the combing cylinders, a belt driven by the driven shaft and operating the conveyer chain, and a belt driven by the shaft and driving the saw, as shown.

10. A machine of the character described, comprising an elongated frame, two combing cylinders extending upwardly across one end of the frame, one above the other and at an angle to the frame, a conveyer chain extending parallel with the frame at one end of the cylinders, a spring pressed shoe adapted to hold the broom-corn 011 the conveyer belt as it passes between the combing cylinders, a rotary saw on the outside of the conveyer chain, a driven shaft carried by the frame below the combing cylinders, a belt driven by the shaft and driving both of the combing cylinders, a belt driven by the shaft and driving the conveyer chain, and a belt driven by the shaft and rotary saw, and means for receiving the broo1n-corn from the combing cylinders and assorting it.

11. A machine of the character described,

comprising an elongated frame, two combing cylinders extending obliquely across the frame one above the other, means for verti cally adjusting the combing cylinders, a conveyer chain extending parallel with the frame at one end of the combing cylinders, a vertically adjustable spring held shoe above the conveyer chain and adapted to .hold the butts of the broom-corn on the con veyer chain as it passes between the combing cylinders, a rotary saw carried by the frame on the outside of the conveyer chain, a suction fan below the combing cylinders, a driven shaft carried by the frame below the combing cylinders, a belt driven by the shaft and driving the saw, a belt driven by the shaft and driving the conveyer chain, a

beveled gear carried by the shaft, a shaft longitudinally mounted within the frame parallel with the combing cylinders, a beveled gear carried by the shaft and meshing with the beveled gear carried by the driven Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G. 

